Have you ever stared at a pile of empty beverage containers and wondered, “Which of these is actually worth 5 cents?”
In New York, the Bottle Bill makes recycling profitable, but knowing exactly what’s eligible can sometimes be confusing. At Unlimited Redemption, we’re here to simplify your cleanup and ensure you get cash back for every eligible container.
Here is your quick guide to everything you can redeem at any of our clean, convenient locations!
The Golden Rule: Look for the NY 5¢ Label
The simplest way to confirm eligibility is to check the label. The New York Bottle Bill requires a clear marking stating “NY 5¢” or “New York 5 cents” on the packaging of containers that had a deposit paid when purchased.
If you see that mark, you can redeem it!
The Three Redeemable Materials
The New York Bottle Bill primarily covers three types of beverage containers:
1. Aluminum Cans
Aluminum is perhaps the easiest material to redeem and the most valuable to recycle!
✅ Eligible Containers Include:
- Soda (Coke, Pepsi, etc.)
- Beer (Lagers, IPAs, Sours, etc.)
- Sparkling water (Seltzer, non-flavored fizzy water)
- Some ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages (Hard Seltzers, Canned Cocktails)
❌ NOT Eligible: Food cans (tuna, soup), pet food cans, or other aluminum packaging.
2. Glass Bottles
Glass can be heavy, but redeeming it means keeping huge amounts of material out of landfills—and earning back those dimes!
✅ Eligible Containers Include:
- Beer and Malt Beverages
- Sparkling Cider and Kombucha
- Soda and Juices sold in glass bottles
❌ NOT Eligible: Wine bottles (unless sparkling and labeled NY 5¢), liquor bottles, food jars (pickles, spaghetti sauce), or other non-beverage glass.
3. Plastic Bottles
Plastic is often the trickiest, but if it contained a beverage and has the NY 5¢ label, it counts!
✅ Eligible Containers Include:
- Soda (large and small bottles)
- Water (sparkling or non-flavored soda water)
- Juice and Tea bottles (as long as they are carbonated or have the NY 5¢ label)
❌ NOT Eligible: Crucially, plain, non-carbonated water bottles (unless explicitly marked with NY 5¢) are generally NOT eligible under the NY Bottle Bill. This is the number one source of confusion! Also excluded are milk jugs, non-beverage plastics (detergent), and yogurt drinks.
Ready to Turn Your Trash into Treasure?
Whether you have a few bags or a truckload of party empties, Unlimited Redemption makes the process fast, accurate, and clean.
Don’t let your deposit money sit in your recycling bin. Visit any of our locations in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Amsterdam, Coxsackie, Kingston, and Wynantskill to redeem your cash today!
➡️ Find your nearest Unlimited Redemption Center and start earning!
